For the first time in six seasons, the Oklahoma football team is not the preseason pick to win the Big 12 championship.
That's only fitting, because for the first time in that long, the Sooners will look drastically different – at least offensively – as they break in a new quarterback.
It's Oklahoma State, not Oklahoma, at the top of the preseason poll, and as Big 12 media days are upon us, here are some of the main questions the Sooners will have to answer from the media as they head to Dallas on Monday.
Question: Who is the quarterback going to be?
What they'll say: Count on coach Bob Stoops not hinting on who the starter will be. He'll say all three – Blake Bell, Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson – have a lot to offer. Interestingly enough, not a single quarterback will join Stoops in Dallas. Better to not subject anyone to a barrage of what-if questions.
But the truth is: Blake Bell will be the starter. He ran the most-important plays during the spring game and also has been used extensively in short-yardage, running situations the past two years. We don't know what kind of thrower he is, but the Sooners will find out as they go.
Question: What will the defense do better this season?
What they'll say: Mike Stoops, in his second season back as defensive coordinator, will certainly admit they made some mistakes last season – like playing without linebackers during a portion of the second half of the season. Stoops will also say he learned a lot and the defense will be improved, in part because he is more comfortable, too. Remember, the Sooners also hired a number of new coaches, including a special teams coach and a defensive line coach, too.
But the truth is: The Sooners have been gouged in the second half of the season the past two years. There has to be a degree of uncertainty, if not panic, on the staff. In each of the past two seasons, OU has given up massive amounts of points and yards to Oklahoma State and then was undone by West Virginia as well as Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. The truth is, OU has to be better – not great – just better in 2013. The offense won't be as prolific, so the defense must improve or things could really get ugly for the Sooners.
Question: What's the story with the running game?
What they'll say: They'll say, ‘What do you mean?' After all, the Sooners ran for an average of nearly 5 yards per carry and ran for 161 yards per game. That's good, right? The combination of Brennan Clay, Blake Bell, Roy Finch and Damien Williams was productive and effective. Williams ran for 946 yards last year and 11 touchdowns, including a 95-yard score against Texas. And all of those guys are back this year.
But the truth is: OU really never did decide on who was going to be the feature back. A season after Dom Whaley surprised before being injured, he never returned to the form of 2011. Finch was once a preseason All-Big 12 pick, but he carried it just seven times, despite playing in 13 games. Williams was the surest thing, but wasn't exactly consistent. He had 156 yards against Florida A&M and then 167 against Texas, but then went for 81 total in the next three games. Williams had 99 against Baylor and then 92 against West Virginia, but just 11 against Oklahoma State and then only 41 against Texas A&M.
Expect the running game to be better. The Sooners brought in Bill Bedenbaugh from West Virginia to coach the offensive line, so the commitment to the run game will be there, even if the Sooners haven't committed to who is going to be the feature runner.
Question: Who is going to be the go-to receiver this season?
What they'll say: This one's easy. OU coaches and players will say they don't need a go-to receiver and that the team is deep enough at the position that any number of players can step up and play well. The Sooners have Jaz Reynolds, Sterling Shepard, Durron Neal, Jalen Saunders and more. All have played big minutes. All have contributed. None have been "The Guy," however.
But the truth is: Yes, that's somewhat true, it doesn't seem like OU needs a go-to guy with all that experience coming back, but the Sooners would thrive if one of the receivers established himself. Last year it was Kenny Stills. The year before that it was Ryan Broyles. And with a new quarterback coming in, figure whoever it is, will need the security of a guy who can be counted on.
Saunders and Shepard seem like they are the best bet, but both are possession-style receivers. OU will need to find a deep threat to make sure they are most effective in the passing game.
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter @andrewgilmanOK
